What do you consider good redemption value?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
What do you consider good redemption value?
With the current roster of partners and dynamic pricing, what does everyone consider to be a "good" redemption value for SkyMiles, especially if you have transferable points available. I feel like with other rewards programs I can easily get cash value of more than 2c per point, but maybe with Delta I should aim for more like 1.4?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
With the current roster of partners and dynamic pricing, what does everyone consider to be a "good" redemption value for SkyMiles, especially if you have transferable points available. I feel like with other rewards programs I can easily get cash value of more than 2c per point, but maybe with Delta I should aim for more like 1.4?
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
I’m not nearly as successful as many here in maximizing the value of my miles. I usually don’t have the luxury of being able to play around with dates, etc. I pull the trigger if the flights I need are available for 1.2 cents to the mile or better; otherwise I pay cash or use points (e.g. Chase UR).
#4
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I’m not nearly as successful as many here in maximizing the value of my miles. I usually don’t have the luxury of being able to play around with dates, etc. I pull the trigger if the flights I need are available for 1.2 cents to the mile or better; otherwise I pay cash or use points (e.g. Chase UR).
I've started to look at mile's main utility as being the effectively refundable fares they provide (as a DM/PM). I may only get 1.1-1.2 cpm (and 1.1 really = 1 cpm because you get a 10% "discount" back in the form of miles when you pay cash), but it means I can make tentative plans and then cancel if things pick up with work or whatever it may be. That's worth at least a few additional factions of a cent to my cpm calculations.
That said, this may not apply if the OP is not at least a PM/DM.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAS, MPL
Programs: DL Platinum, 1 MM
Posts: 1,321
I've started to look at mile's main utility as being the effectively refundable fares they provide (as a DM/PM). I may only get 1.1-1.2 cpm (and 1.1 really = 1 cpm because you get a 10% "discount" back in the form of miles when you pay cash), but it means I can make tentative plans and then cancel if things pick up with work or whatever it may be. That's worth at least a few additional factions of a cent to my cpm calculations.
That said, this may not apply if the OP is not at least a PM/DM.
That said, this may not apply if the OP is not at least a PM/DM.
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
So to be honest I find I am easily able to beat the "good" redemption by using skymiles for domestic (U.S.) flights to "expensive" locations (i.e. non stops to remote airports etc.)
Though I would normally say if you can beat 1.2 cents per mile you are in a good spot. I have sometimes gotten up to 4 cents + a mile on the example above though (but that is rare and a true surprise)
Though I would normally say if you can beat 1.2 cents per mile you are in a good spot. I have sometimes gotten up to 4 cents + a mile on the example above though (but that is rare and a true surprise)
#7
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
So to be honest I find I am easily able to beat the "good" redemption by using skymiles for domestic (U.S.) flights to "expensive" locations (i.e. non stops to remote airports etc.)
Though I would normally say if you can beat 1.2 cents per mile you are in a good spot. I have sometimes gotten up to 4 cents + a mile on the example above though (but that is rare and a true surprise)
Though I would normally say if you can beat 1.2 cents per mile you are in a good spot. I have sometimes gotten up to 4 cents + a mile on the example above though (but that is rare and a true surprise)
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
I get why its expensive because its a convenience thing of not having to drive to and from MIA but it gives me heart burn trying to pay cash on that flight
#9
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta 2M DM, Southwest A List and CP
Posts: 1,102
IMO, there are some really good redemptions to be had with DL. For example, from PHX there are 5,500 mile O/W awards to Western Canada, 15,000 miles to rural Eastern Canada (part on Westjet), etc., and those are easily 2+ cents a mile. Some of the Europe sales are 2+ c/mile too. On the other hand, going to LA from PHX would set you back 9,000 miles or so O/W, which is about 1 c/mile. So, it is all a matter of looking for good redemption rates, and then jumping on them if they work for you.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,185
I will often use SM for award tickets to hold the space in advance and then when I am certain of my travel plans I will switch to the PWM feature to ensure I get MQMs for the trip. The huge advantage of SM award tickets is the flexibility to cancel at no charge. The huge disadvantage is the fact that no MQMs are earned for travel on award tickets.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
I will often use SM for award tickets to hold the space in advance and then when I am certain of my travel plans I will switch to the PWM feature to ensure I get MQMs for the trip. The huge advantage of SM award tickets is the flexibility to cancel at no charge. The huge disadvantage is the fact that no MQMs are earned for travel on award tickets.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
Alas, I don't have status on DL anymore, but I remember that when I did (even at Gold) last-minute award fares would show up at the lowest level on my favorite route - JFK-SLC. I don't know if that's still an un-advertised perk of status, but sadly doesn't apply to me!
I have MR points so I figure I can always transfer them to DL if there's a crazy deal, so maybe it's worth going through my Skymiles stash at anything > 1.4c.
Like many others here, I'm not flexible with dates or times, but I've often been able to get good deals with other carriers and transferrable points: e.g. I'm going to Japan tomorrow in JL F and back in DL suites, booked with AA and Virgin respectively (60k Virgin vs. 300k Delta miles...). That last datapoint makes me feel like Virgin miles will almost always book DL flights cheaper than Skymiles.
I have MR points so I figure I can always transfer them to DL if there's a crazy deal, so maybe it's worth going through my Skymiles stash at anything > 1.4c.
Like many others here, I'm not flexible with dates or times, but I've often been able to get good deals with other carriers and transferrable points: e.g. I'm going to Japan tomorrow in JL F and back in DL suites, booked with AA and Virgin respectively (60k Virgin vs. 300k Delta miles...). That last datapoint makes me feel like Virgin miles will almost always book DL flights cheaper than Skymiles.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
That’s why I always pay cash for myself and spend my miles on my wife and son. Although in my case, it’s MQDs that I need rather than MQM. I have substantial rollover banked so the latter aren’t important to me.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
Alas, I don't have status on DL anymore, but I remember that when I did (even at Gold) last-minute award fares would show up at the lowest level on my favorite route - JFK-SLC. I don't know if that's still an un-advertised perk of status, but sadly doesn't apply to me!
I have MR points so I figure I can always transfer them to DL if there's a crazy deal, so maybe it's worth going through my Skymiles stash at anything > 1.4c.
Like many others here, I'm not flexible with dates or times, but I've often been able to get good deals with other carriers and transferrable points: e.g. I'm going to Japan tomorrow in JL F and back in DL suites, booked with AA and Virgin respectively (60k Virgin vs. 300k Delta miles...). That last datapoint makes me feel like Virgin miles will almost always book DL flights cheaper than Skymiles.
I have MR points so I figure I can always transfer them to DL if there's a crazy deal, so maybe it's worth going through my Skymiles stash at anything > 1.4c.
Like many others here, I'm not flexible with dates or times, but I've often been able to get good deals with other carriers and transferrable points: e.g. I'm going to Japan tomorrow in JL F and back in DL suites, booked with AA and Virgin respectively (60k Virgin vs. 300k Delta miles...). That last datapoint makes me feel like Virgin miles will almost always book DL flights cheaper than Skymiles.
Sometimes they have reduced levels with no notice. I'm currently seeing awards from hubs to LHR/AMS/CDG in Delta One for 128K roundtrip. Normally, the lowest level on DL metal is 172K RT. The 128K awards are roundtrip awards (can't be purchased as one-way's) with a Saturday night stay required and a 60-day advance purchase requirement. They are also seasonal --
VALID FOR TRAVEL COMMENCING ON/AFTER 30JUN 19 AND ON/ BEFORE 06SEP 19. ALL TRAVEL MUST BE COMPLETED BY MIDNIGHT ON 06SEP 19.
Fare code is CSVR640.
Last edited by xliioper; Feb 15, 2019 at 11:29 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Redemption value has been a big adjustment for me coming from AS; I was able to get CX J redemptions at 6.5 cpm in some cases. Granted, the alternative for me was buying a cheap coach fare instead of actually paying $3k+ for a one-way transpac J fare, but DL's redemption values have still paled in comparison given how high their international J rates are. My one DL award booking so far was a domestic F redemption at 1.5 cpm, and I don't expect to get much better than that.